Christmas Time

Hi Y.! I have August and November babies (now 5 and 7) and those first Christmas's were pretty light on the gifts. Enjoy not having to spend much because let me tell you, it's getting more expensive over here at my house (one wants a $130 Nintendo DS - yikes!) My mom came up with an idea I love though. She gives them a $50 savings bond every Christmas. My 7 year old will be getting her 8th bond this year - won't they be happy when they head off to college and I give them their bonds from Nana?

Black and White Christmas paper since babies that young typically respond to black and white better than colors. Anything that makes noise! My daughter was 3 months at the time of her first christmas and we had a blast.

I think a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament is nice - that way you can use it for years to come and remember baby's first Christmas!

The best gift for your baby is YOU! Interactive time spent together. Introducing tummy time play. Maybe getting a sling--if you don't have one--so your baby is in close body contact with you and easy to carry. For example, the MOBYWRAP involves you learning how to wrap a lot of special fabric on your torso in ways that hold your baby. Infants can be in fetal position on your chest...different use of the wrap lets an older baby be forward facing, etc. I teach baby handling skills using the Feldenkrais® Method. A gift might be scheduling a session that will teach you fun developmentally appropriate handling skills. I teach 1:1 and groups. In a group, you AND your baby AND other mothers with infants can create a fun learning environment together.
R. Shapiro
Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner

My son is 6 months (will be 7 months at Christmas) and we are getting him the Fisher Price Crawl -n- Cruise Musical Jungle. Its something he can play with now and will be able to play with for at least the next year. We are filling his stocking with baby food.

As for the family, I made a wishlist on www.toysrus.com of a couple toys that he is able to play with, but I made sure to add diapers and wipes (and will mention these to everyone) because you can never really have too many of either!

I added the convertible cart seats, although I doubt we get them since they are $170 each!

Hi Y.,
Congrats on your baby. I think just a '1st baby ornament, with the year'. I also got a Holiday plate for the year that my kids were born. My husband's Aunt gave us the one his Mom had gotten, and it seemed kind of neat to see something from back then.
As for asking from stuff from others/family, I always asked for diapers, formula, and clothes. Not that I needed them to buy them for me, but they always asked 'what do they need?'...
well, that's what they need. you could aslo consider asking for a convertible car seat. you'll need it in about 6 months... or a highchair if you don't already have one.
Happy holidays.
M.

I have two ideas that will help create memories. I would recommend an unbreakable, non-toxic, ornament with his name and birth date and "first Christmas" (you can write this info on it yourself). This way he can "open" the present, see what's inside, "hold it, teeth it, etc. and then you put it on the tree/ display it, and the child will be reminded every Christmas season with his ornament on the tree, that he got a present just by being himself.
Also, be sure to have, and do, a tradition with him that will mean, "Christmas" for him and you (and anyone else in your intimate circle). It could be a special decoration being put up, a procedure for the day, a prayer said at dinner, a moment together to watch the sunset, etc.

I think the "baby's first Christmas" ornament is a great idea. We also got a favorite book for my daughter (Goodnight Moon) and wrote an inscription in the front cover with a date.
Ditto on less is more......Happy Thanksgiving/Merry Christmas!

My daughter was 2.5 months old for her first Christmas & we got her a few age appropriate toys, some books, nothing big. My parents got her a really cute soft doll. She got lots of clothes from relatives.

I'd say, an unbreakable baby's first christmas ornament (so he can have it on his tree some day). I'd say one of those baby's first photo books with pictures special people in your baby's life. Especially any important people who don't live close. Also, I belive Fisher Price has a nativity group of Little People. That would be a wonderful toy that you can use as a fun way to educate your child about the meaning of Christmas down the road. For now, it's ok if baby Jesus gets chewed on. :)

We put special baby food in the stockings... dessert style food. But your child will not be old enough to enjoy that for a while. I understand the desire to put something in there... maybe just use high contrasting tissue paper and make pretend gifts. Kids always love the wrapping more than the gift for the first 18 months anyway.

Good luck and enjoy the time with your baby. That is the most precious gift you can give. That and show him the excitement of all the decorations, drive around to see lights and look at the details of the Christmas tree ornaments, etc.

Liz

ohh, this is a great year to give gifts from your baby. Handprint pictures in little frames... Mini photo ornaments with his picture in it. It is a great way to do some fun and inexpensive things that your receipients will LOVE.

Hi Y.,

My son's 1st Christmas, we gave him things he needed anyways-baby bath, onesies, sippie cups, feeding spoons, etc. I did get him a cute outfit/hat, too. That way, he had presents under the tree, but we didn't break the bank buying things he didn't need yet. Years later, my daughter was born just 12 days before Christmas. She received soft, fuzzy slippers and some pacifiers :) Consider not going to crazy even next year, as at that age, the kids like the boxes and paper a lot more than the gifts! Have a blessed holiday.

K.

Congratulations on your baby! Since he really wont care get him something that you wanted for him but felt was a splurge or surprise her husband with a gift for the baby and have him do the same. Enjoy becasue next year he will be ripping up the tree and all the presents! S.

Hi Y., while I certainly understand your excitement and sentiment for the holiday, your son is only 2 months old and could care less about a christmas gift. If your son has all of his basic needs(food, clothing, shelter, love and attention) taken care of there's no need to spend money unneccesarily. Instead invest the money you would spend on a gift in a CD that would have a high yield in about 5 years. You may want to look into an online savings account for him with ING direct. I'm not trying to be a party pooper, but I think too often we spend money on frivolous things and look back years later asking what was I thinking.

My children enjoy their First Christmas ornaments. If you are Catholic, a pretty rosary, or if not, a childrens' Bible for later use is nice. A special book with your writing in the front, a tape of your baby, a musical tape, colorful noise making chewy toy, wooden toys, nothing made in China!

I would try to think of items or toys your child will enjoy in the next year but maybe not right now. Do you have an exersaucer or a jumperoo? Those are things your child will love soon and since your little one has quite awhile before his b-day you could make them Christmas gifts from your of family.

Anything special...like a personalized first baby's Christmas ornament, or a new soft blanket for him, a storybook for you to read to him. Anything like that...more everyday things you use with him, that he will like at this age.

Our oldest daughter was born in November, so that first
Christmas was a bit tricky. We ended up finding a cute little stuffed toy - it was from the Beatrice Potter story line, something that we could incorporate into her little life
through stories. And my favorite - was a squeaky candy cane,
that was almost as big as she was. It turned out to be a
"dog toy" but it was in one of those clearance bins when we
purchased it -- it was a couple of years before we saw it
packaged for doggies! LOL..... the joy of parenting!!

Just remember less is always more when it comes to purchasing for these special little people in our lives.
This daughter is 29 now, and still has the stuffed animal and the candy cane!!!

Enjoy this little gift from God and the adventure that will follow. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas with your baby.

L.

Just a simple Christmas ornament with his name and the year.

Y. I'm just being honest I was anxious too my daughter's 1st X-Mas and she was only 4mnths but, really there's nothing that they want or need better than mommy.You'd be wasting your time. Just enjoy the day and the BABY. Or my 14yr old said maybe try a soft toy of his favorite character.

They recommend that you start reading to your child by about 4 months, so I would say that would be a good stocking stuffer. Also, if your child does not yet have an exersaucer, that would be a good idea too. Granted, your son is not ready yet, but he will be in the next two months. Blocks are good. (not too small though)

For my daughters first Christmas (and August baby) we bought her practical things...like a highchair that we hadn't gotten yet (which she loved) and various other practical things that needed to be bought (like a doorway jumper, rattle toys...) We only bought her a few things, but she loved playing with the bows and the paper. Have fun!

My baby will be almost 5 months at Christmas and I don't know what to get her, either. She already has a ton of toys.

Someone suggested gift certificates for me for pictures. If you're like me, you're taking a lot of pictures and/or going to a photographer to capture baby's first moments.

I've also suggested to my family to get gift cards for baby stores.

I have a September baby, who was only 4 months old for her first christmas.

I'd recommend a baby's first christmas ornament, personalized with his name and year. A book or two (that he could grow into) is also a good habit to start right away.

The other thing I'd recommend is to look at developmental toys that he could use over the next year - they grow and change so quickly. There are a lot of toys that he could use when he's nine months old, in the space before he turns one and has another day o'gifts.

Good Luck!

My daughter was 5 months old on her first Christmas. When family asked what she wanted/needed for Christmas, we told them diapers & wipes (and they wrapped them so she had paper to rip off and play with). As for us, we wrapped her up some baby food, forula... things she would need. We tried not to go overboard with toys because we knew she wouldnt remember it (we did get her a few teething toys though)